Ball



A B U S S A K P BALL Filed Sept. 11, 1946 IN VEN TOR. PAUL KASSUBA.

F ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFlCE Application September 11, 1946, Serial No. 696,285

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a ball adapted primarly for use as a ball for playing catch or for use as a beach ball.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a, ball formed from a plurality of sections which are buoyant and so arranged and constructed that the individual sections may be individually removed and replaced thus making it possible should one of the sections become damaged, to cheaply and quickly replace the damagid section and place the ball in its original condition.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ball having a plurality of individual buoyant sections connected together in such a manner as to form a spherical body having de pressions in its periphery which will afford access to the various sections and provide hand grips.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ball of this class formed from a plurality of sections and provided with means for inflating the various sections.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ball of this class which may be economically manufactured, which will be durable in use, attractive and highly efficient in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

It is recognized that various modifications and changes may be made in the detail of structure illustrated without departing from the invention and it is intended that such shall be embraced Within the scope of the claim which forms a part hereof.

Forming a part of this specification are drawings in which,

Fig. l is a side elevational View of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1, slightly enlarged showing parts in side elevation and parts in section,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the sections with parts broken away and parts shown in section,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line 3-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings I have shown the ball formed from a plurality of sections having the side walls 9 and I6 and the peripheral wall ll. These sections are so constructed that they are substantially oval in cross section as clearly appears in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4. In the drawing I have shown the sections formed from rubber or other suitable material and adapted for being inflated.

If desired, however, it is obvious that the sections may be formed from other material such as plastic or the like in which case they would not have to be inflated but would still be buoyant. Each of the sections is provided with a threaded stem l2 having a passage l3 formed therethrough which communicates with the interior [4 of the section. This stem l2 is threaded into the passage it formed in the core l5 which may be made from metal or other suitable material. Communicating with the passage [6 is a passage l8 threaded into which is an air delivery pipe !9 connected by the flexible conduit I! to an air valve 20. The construction is such that when the various sections are connected to the core [5 these sections may be inflated by forcing air through the air valve 20.

These passages l5 radiate outwardly from the core I5 in such a manner that when the sections are secured as shown these sections will be arranged in rows A, B, and C, these rows forming a circular formation on their periphery. As clearly shown in Fig. l, the sections in row B will engage at one of their ends with the ends of the sections in row A and at the other of their ends with the ends of the sections in row 0. Consequently, the sections in row B will form with the adjacent sections in row C a sort of rosette and similarly these sections in row B will form with the adjacent sections 22, 23, 24, and 25 of row A a sort or rosette. The meeting edges of the sections in these rows are secured together by a securing plate 2|. When the sections are made of rubber this plate 2! will also be formed of rubber and cemented to the peripheries of the meeting sections. There are spaces 28 on opposite sides of each of the sections which afford a hand grip. However, these sections are arranged sufficiently close together so that a spherical construction is obtained and when one is playing with the ball it will roll to all substantial purposes as though it were a continuous sphere on its periphery.

It is obvious that should any of the sections become damaged the individual section may be, upon detaching the connecting plate 2!, easily and quickly removed and replaced with a similar section. These szctions are all buoyant so that they will float in the water and the ball, even though large, will be sufiiciently light so that it may be thrown with ease. Experience has shown that it is highly attractive and serves admirably its purpose as a ball with which to play.

What I claim is:

A ball of the class described comprising a cen- 2,546,896 f i V f I if 3 tral core, a, plurality of flexible, hollow, inflatable body forming sections, each of said sections being secured at on end to said core and projecting outwardly therefrom, each of said sections tapering outwardly from said core to a larger 5 4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS dimension and having a curvilinear outer face, Number Name Date adjacent sections abutting at their outer ends. 1,620,421 Wilson Mar. 8, 1927 means for securing the outer ends in fixed relation, said core having a plurality of passages FOREIGN PATENTS formed therein, each of said sections communi- 10 Number Country Date eating with one of said passages, and means for 347,326 Germany Aug. 29, 1920 delivering air under pressure to said passages for inflating said sections.

PAUL KASSUBA. 

